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This group of animations with accompanying text illustrates the difference between the two primary types of mechanical waves: longitudinal and transverse. It is part of a larger collection of resources on wave motion, acoustics, and sound authored by Dan Russell of Kettering University.

Units (2)

This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.

Topic: Wave EnergyUnit Title: Types of Mechanical Waves

This page, part of an award-winning web site on wave animations, shows how particles move in different types of waves. Students can clearly see that the particles do not move along with the waves, they simply oscillate back and forth as the wave passes by.

This page, part of an award-winning web site on wave animations, depicts how particles move in four types of waves: longitudinal, transverse, water, and Rayleigh surface waves. Students can clearly see that the particles do not move along with the waves, they simply oscillate back and forth as the wave passes by.

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